Preview — The Stark Divide
by J. Scott Coatsworth

The Stark Divide

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or ForSome stories are epic.

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.

From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.

Community Reviews

Although I don't read a science fiction anymore, I am still easily hooked by a cool concept and an interesting author. Even still, I nearly gave The Stark Divide as pass, but I'm glad I let my curiosity get the better of me, because J. Scott Coatsworth weaves a fantastic story.

First off, even though this a big story with a lot of world-building behind it, it never info-dump and never feels overwhelming. Coatsworth keeps the story well-balanced and well-paced, using flashbacks and memories to filAlthough I don't read a science fiction anymore, I am still easily hooked by a cool concept and an interesting author. Even still, I nearly gave The Stark Divide as pass, but I'm glad I let my curiosity get the better of me, because J. Scott Coatsworth weaves a fantastic story.

First off, even though this a big story with a lot of world-building behind it, it never info-dump and never feels overwhelming. Coatsworth keeps the story well-balanced and well-paced, using flashbacks and memories to fill in gaps that tantalize rather than frustrate. What we are looking at here is a not-too-distant future where Earth is on the verge of collapse, leaving humanity to take to the stars in 'living' ships.

For a story that deals with a lot of heavy social themes (politics, religion, immigration, capitalism,etc.), it never feels heavy. Instead, this is a story where things just are, where people are allowed to just be, without making a big deal out of it. In fact, you'll come away from it thinking far more about the ship-mind, station-mind, and world-mind than you will the character's gender, sexuality, faith, or politics . . . and that's precisely how it should be.

Like so many of the golden age science fiction authors, Coatsworth tells his story in pieces, separating the book into 3 interconnected stories, each of which moves the overall narrative ahead by decades. It makes for an interesting read, with the character in each segment getting just enough page-time to develop and make themselves memorable, while injecting new life into the story along the way. Where it differs from those golden age authors, though, is in its resigned pessimism regarding humanity. This is not a story of an enlightened people taking the best of themselves to a new Utopia, it is a story of humanity transplanting its struggles to somewhere new, without seeming to have learned anything in the process. Don't get me wrong, there is hope to be found within it, but as a race we're going to have to earn it.

The Stark Divide was a nice quick read. It was definitely a book that I didn't want to put down unless I absolutely had to. It plays with some familiar ideas, but does so in such a way that it doesn't feel 'been there, done that'. In it, we've basically destroyed Earth, but we don't have FTL travel yet, so we can't quickly get to another planet. Naturally, that means we have to turn to colony spaceships in the meantime. And that leads me into what I liked most about the book. From the initial sh

The Stark Divide was a nice quick read. It was definitely a book that I didn't want to put down unless I absolutely had to. It plays with some familiar ideas, but does so in such a way that it doesn't feel 'been there, done that'. In it, we've basically destroyed Earth, but we don't have FTL travel yet, so we can't quickly get to another planet. Naturally, that means we have to turn to colony spaceships in the meantime. And that leads me into what I liked most about the book. From the initial ship that the story starts on, Coatsworth catches your imagination and opens your minds to the possibilities of meat and metal spaceships. From there, we move on to an O'Neill cylinder, but the author's way of developing one is definitely one you rarely read about.

Really, the only thing I didn't care for about The Stark Divide was the decades long time skips. I didn't mind the first two, but the third one just seemed to rush things a bit. It felt like it was leaping to keep the drama high, and while I normally like full speed ahead, I just wished for a little more regular stuff here. Well, that, and although the characters were interesting, I wish we had gotten to know them a little bit more. Basically, it seems liked we just skimmed the surface for all the 'good' parts, and it felt like something was missing as a result.

Speaking of characters, I loved that three of the characters both carried a favorite book amongst their meagre possessions in The Stark Divide. At a time where every ounce counts, a book has to be extremely well loved. In one case, it was a journal. But the others were well-recognized sci-fi classics. It made me reflect on what book I would carry with me when everything was going to pieces. (Answer: My Kindle, because I couldn't just choose one book.)

While I have read a few science fiction books that had LGBTQ+ characters in them, it was generally only one or two at max. The Stark Divide is inclusive science fiction written by an author who was tired of not finding characters he could relate to in stories. Anyone who is seeking good science fiction within those parameters needs to take a look at The Stark Divide. This is a solid story with a diverse cast of characters where their sexuality and/or gender is present, acknowledged, but really not a big deal. There are same sex marriages, casual relationships, FtM characters, and more.

Earth was believably depressing, the spaceships were awesome, the relationship between the AI minds and some of the humans were great, and there was a solid amount of diversity present in The Stark Divide.This was a very entertaining book and I believe it's the start to a series with a lot of potential. Here's hoping J. Scott Coatsworth writes the epic saga this story begs to be the beginning of.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration. ...more

I’ve read a number of books by the author, and I’ve enjoyed them. This one blows them all away. It is a phenomenal piece of writing that had my undivided attention from the first page.

There is so much in here that hits all my personal hot spots: World-building that slowly unfolds without a ton of expository text; flawed but likable characters; both subtle and overt references to favorite speculative fiction; action that’s low on both sex and violence; social themes; and a what-will-happen-next pI’ve read a number of books by the author, and I’ve enjoyed them. This one blows them all away. It is a phenomenal piece of writing that had my undivided attention from the first page.

There is so much in here that hits all my personal hot spots: World-building that slowly unfolds without a ton of expository text; flawed but likable characters; both subtle and overt references to favorite speculative fiction; action that’s low on both sex and violence; social themes; and a what-will-happen-next plot.

This is not a romance by any stretch, but the relationships among the various people are important. I loved the friendship aspects and the way people in this world are allowed to simply be who they are without question, despite the horrific and tragic circumstances of the story. In fact, those parts seem so mundane as to be of little importance to the plot. It’s refreshing to see LGBT+ people simply existing rather than being the driving force of the novel.

I absolutely love the world the author has created. The ship-mind, and later the station-mind and the world-mind, are fascinating. I can’t wait to see how that’s explored more fully in future books. I’m particularly interested in the world-mind and some aspects of it that have (for me, at least) metaphoric significance. Saying more would be spoilers, but it is so completely fascinating to me, and I want to know more.

There’s a lot of diversity here, in particular with regard to LGBT+ identities. I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed not to have spotted anyone obviously bisexual or any trans women or non-binary people (though gay, lesbian, and a trans man are all covered nicely). However, there is at least one character that I chose to read as bi, and I’m hoping that when they return, that will be confirmed. And if not, perhaps that’s what good speculative fiction is for: my perceptions may be correct even if it’s never spoken. In any case, I loved that there were so many different people.

Another theme which grabbed me was the way aspects of faith and spirituality are woven into the narrative. It’s not a bash-you-on-the-head kind of religion. Like gender and orientation, it’s simply part of who some characters are. But there are also some more subtle and deeper connections (for example, one aspect of the world-mind). While only one religion is specifically named in the book, there are things which may be relatable to people of faith regardless of spiritual identity.

The novel is told in three parts, and the first two are resolved fairly easily. The third one left me feeling simultaneously anguished, hopeful, and on the edge of my seat. It does leave off with what I consider a cliffhanger, so I’m hoping we’ll see part two sooner rather than later.

For a diverse cast, a highly absorbing story, and an ending that left me wanting more, this gets 5 stars....more

This was a very interesting read. The premise of sentient spaceships isn't new, of course, nor is the idea of a space ark as the refuge of the remains of humanity. But when the 'ark' is a created world, Forever, complete with mountains, rivers and farms, all held within a space ship grown from a seed and inhabited with sentient, aware, intelligent AI with ambivalent motivation... that's a little different.

This is essentially a trilogy of interconnected novellas, with some reasonably large timeshThis was a very interesting read. The premise of sentient spaceships isn't new, of course, nor is the idea of a space ark as the refuge of the remains of humanity. But when the 'ark' is a created world, Forever, complete with mountains, rivers and farms, all held within a space ship grown from a seed and inhabited with sentient, aware, intelligent AI with ambivalent motivation... that's a little different.

This is essentially a trilogy of interconnected novellas, with some reasonably large timeshifts between each segment. That didn't actually bother me - I rather liked the feeling that each segment was clearly complete, and the jumps to the next segment at least did away with the need for pesky (and pointless!) transitions that wouldn't have added anything to the plot. Instead, the author tells three tight, carefully structured tales that are woven together through the ensemble cast of characters and the book's theme of mankind's self-destruction

The least cheerful element of the overarching tale is that even with today's lessons in front of us, humanity has learned very little, certainly not enough to improve the future. Earth is dying, devastated by ecological disaster and by war. All the issues we face today: demagoguery politics, climate change tackled too little and too late, war and the human cost, refugees, deprivation, prejudice... all are still problems in this future world. Not just problems, but world-killing events. No. Mankind doesn't learn anything much at all. And perhaps the most depressing thing, is they take the problems with them to Forever.

Excellent worldbuilding, an ensemble of engaging characters and the promise of conflict to come. Very well done....more

This book was provided by J. Scott Coatsworth and read on behalf of Thorns & Ink.

Mr. Coatsworth continues to delight me with each book he writes. I am whisked off to reaches unknown, or reminded of places I’s like to see. He spins tales of longing, despair, faith (not always in the religious sense), and hope. Hope being the key feature of all of his stories. Hope keeps you young. Faith keeps you believing in hope. These are lessons we forget or we become too cynical to carry.

The research thaThis book was provided by J. Scott Coatsworth and read on behalf of Thorns & Ink.

Mr. Coatsworth continues to delight me with each book he writes. I am whisked off to reaches unknown, or reminded of places I’s like to see. He spins tales of longing, despair, faith (not always in the religious sense), and hope. Hope being the key feature of all of his stories. Hope keeps you young. Faith keeps you believing in hope. These are lessons we forget or we become too cynical to carry.

The research that went into this book was extensive. The biomechanics are completely believable. I am still in awe. (I told my Mum that this is a must read.) I was blown away. Mr. Coatsworth has done an amazing job with this first installment. This reminded me of Larry Niven and Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall.

Have you ever fallen in love with a ship? I did. Lex was absolutely stunning. My mind was blown from page one. I was enthralled with each character, but Lex has my heart. This is a space opera done the way they should be. Grand ships and spectacular technology. I loved all of the characters, but none touched my heart as Lex did. Jackson Hammond came very close.

Making the ultimate sacrifice is something people talk about in the metaphorical way. Very rarely are we in a position to make the conscious choice to sacrifice ultimately. I suppose the story that came to mind as I think about Jackson Hammond is Those Who Walked Away From Omelas by Ursla K. Le Guin. (If you haven’t read it, by all means do.) I felt Jackson so deeply. I wanted many things for him. Ultimately, he did what was best for the future of Lex.

Lex is one of the most amazing characters I have read this year. She is, by far so very fascinating. She knew she was more. She was hampered by the human mind in a lot of ways. Similar to the way we can end up standing on one another’s necks. She wanted to protect her humans, but she couldn’t do that and save herself. I wanted her to. Oh how I wanted her to. She is what I hope to see as we go forward into the future of technology.

The age of Homo Sapiens will come to end, what we do know will set the path for the coming space age. We know this world we have will not last forever, and Mr. Coatsworth paints a beautiful dystopian future filled with faith and hope.

The Stark Divide throws you into the stars as Earth races towards extinction. Humanity takes one last grasping chance to save themselves even as the world dies around them because of their stupidity, and even in the dying last breaths they continue throwing nuclear missiles at each other and condemning the entire species.

J. Scott Coatsworth has written an amazing science fiction novel that sends shivers down your spine because of the ring4 1/2 Hearts, Reviewed by Pixie for MM Good Book Reviews

The Stark Divide throws you into the stars as Earth races towards extinction. Humanity takes one last grasping chance to save themselves even as the world dies around them because of their stupidity, and even in the dying last breaths they continue throwing nuclear missiles at each other and condemning the entire species.

J. Scott Coatsworth has written an amazing science fiction novel that sends shivers down your spine because of the ring of truth to it.

The setting of the story is a living world/ship that’s an amazing combination of organic/technology with an artificial intelligence that is more than it seems.

The story starts from the very beginning of Forever’s life when she’s still a seedling and the amazing crew who first ‘plant’ her. The Dressler’s crew, Captain Colin McAvery, Anastasia Anatov scientist and creator of the seedlings (Forever) and Jackson Hammond ship’s engineer, have the important task of ensuring that the seedling is planted on an asteroid so it can begin growing so it can save a portion of humanity. The problem is something’s wrong with the Dressler and it’s a race against time.

The story then jumps in time with Colin, Anastasia and Jackson’s son Aaron meeting as Forever is being colonised for human habitation. It’s a fraught time as truths come out and Forever doesn’t forget grudges.

The final segment in the story is 30 years on from Forever’s birth, while Forever still isn’t quite big enough or ready for mass human habitation the Earth is failing, and refugees are flocking to Forever.

This really is an amazing story and while it has gay, lesbian and Trans characters I would actually say that this is a more mainstream story. There’s no romance and no one character to focus on, the story is about Forever’s journey with the stories of some of the humans who are important to her survival coming through.

The world building is absolutely amazing; we get to see a new world emerging through determination and survival instincts, we get to picture through the authors words exactly what a new world for humans might be like, living inside that world… it’s just amazing.

The characters each come to life, their hopes, dreams, fear, anger, desperation and shame comes through brilliantly, we are left in no doubt as to what the characters are going through.

This isn’t your usual science fiction story, there’s no danger other than that brought on by humans stupid actions, there’s no aliens racing to help humanity, there’s no devastating natural world event, there’s no nicely timed rescue of Earth. It’s a story of amazing ingenuity, characters connected by the beginning and shear survival instincts.

I recommend this to those who love deep science fiction stories, who adore a storyline that pulls you along in its wake, who love interesting characters, and an ending that is also a brand new beginning....more

The author gifted an ARC of this novel for an honest and fair review. Publication date October 2017.

Sci-fi can be a little po-faced at times, or quirky to the point of artifice. It can be difficult to strike the balance between intelligent story-telling and dumbing down the science-y bits for the masses. This author has been on my radar for a while. I’ve read some of his short stories, but never a full-blown novel.

Basically, this is a story split into three parts, threaded together by three geneThe author gifted an ARC of this novel for an honest and fair review. Publication date October 2017.

Sci-fi can be a little po-faced at times, or quirky to the point of artifice. It can be difficult to strike the balance between intelligent story-telling and dumbing down the science-y bits for the masses. This author has been on my radar for a while. I’ve read some of his short stories, but never a full-blown novel.

Basically, this is a story split into three parts, threaded together by three generations of the same family. In the first part, we are introduced to the mothership, Dressler (or Lex, in ship-mind form, so the humans can relate to it.) Lex is critically wounded by a fungus that may or may not have been introduced intentionally, entailing a heart-stopping race to save her cargo from destruction before she is destroyed. Her cargo is the seed which will create a new world for humans wanting to escape Earth, which is slowly being torn apart by wars, big business and human fallibility.

Each part of the book is set a few years ahead from the next, so there is a real epic quality, a sense of journey, as humans attempt to start again, having screwed up the planet they were originally put on. Inevitably, the same old problems rear their ugly heads even in this Utopian worldly (called Forever.) This is a potent tale in an era where the problems the characters are coming up against are very familiar. Namely, the refugee crisis, capitalism and politics, power play, and wars that escalate, causing mass devastation. The fate of the dying Earth is very dark indeed.

In contrast, it is wonderful to see the birth and development of Forever, borne out of the asteroid Ariadne, where the seed was planted. And whilst this could easily be a bleak tale of a dystopian future, it isn’t, due to the ingenuity, compassion and generosity of the characters the author has created. The potential villain appears near the end, and is bound to have his day further down the series.

I loved the diversity of the characters, all without the common angst over who they are, or the usual mutterings of those around them. Some are gay, some are straight, some are trans. Get over it. It’s so refreshing to have a character that just happens to be trans, and yes, it is inevitable that their personal circumstances have a bearing on how they act around other people, but it isn’t a big thing. And the gay couple are in a long term, loving relationship. Again, that’s it. Accepted. Move on. We should have more characters in mainstream novels like this, which would go a long way to aid acceptance in the wider world.

Anyway, soapbox time over. This is a great science-fiction novel, and a cracking start to a gripping series. There is also a helpful glossary at the back. I’ve said this before with books. I just wish I had known the glossary was there before reading the whole book first! This would have been helpful to either, a) have it at the front or, b) mention it at the front so I know it’s there. It isn’t as easy to flip back and forth with an e-reader, but anyway, I was grateful for the added information. Not that there are a lot of unfamiliar words, but it does help to enrich and understand the world the author has created.

Finally, there are elements of everything here. An adventure, a rescue, the creation of a new world, machines with organic elements and Artificial Intelligence. The Lex character may or may not have the humans’ best interests at heart. That’s all I’m saying. In a word, this is a great novel, with awesome world-building and a plot that satisfies the sci-fi buff in all of us....more

This was an absolute joy to read. The writing was clean and easy. The characters were fun and interesting and I loved the setting. I also enjoyed the mix of mostly Sci Fi with the touches of fantasy, that was great fun (in fact I kind of wanted to see more of that, especially in Part 3 with Andy). My only issue with this book (and it's not a bad thing) is the ending didn't feel like an ending. I wanted more. I knew going in this was a prequel for a larger story that will be coming out, but I didThis was an absolute joy to read. The writing was clean and easy. The characters were fun and interesting and I loved the setting. I also enjoyed the mix of mostly Sci Fi with the touches of fantasy, that was great fun (in fact I kind of wanted to see more of that, especially in Part 3 with Andy). My only issue with this book (and it's not a bad thing) is the ending didn't feel like an ending. I wanted more. I knew going in this was a prequel for a larger story that will be coming out, but I didn't want it to end. I think there could have been a bit more to it.

This book sets the table for what is to come and it works. It leaves you wanting more and I so want more....more

Written in three parts – set in 2135, 2145, and 2165 – this novel is a sweeping vision of a future where humankind has no choice but to leave the dying Earth behind and look for a new home among the stars. Self-destruction through climate change, war, and the effects of human greed are the cause of this step, but as this series of three stories shows, humans have learned nothing even over a century from now and end up taking all their problems with them. While scientific advances make the inventWritten in three parts – set in 2135, 2145, and 2165 – this novel is a sweeping vision of a future where humankind has no choice but to leave the dying Earth behind and look for a new home among the stars. Self-destruction through climate change, war, and the effects of human greed are the cause of this step, but as this series of three stories shows, humans have learned nothing even over a century from now and end up taking all their problems with them. While scientific advances make the invention of a living, sentient spaceship possible, nothing seems to be able to improve humans to the point where mental and emotional evolution can take place. It makes for a suspenseful, intense analysis of a potential future that did not give me any solutions, but did manage to leave me with some hope that, eventually, we might understand that not only survival at any cost is not the be-all and end-all for us, but also that we cannot do it alone.

This writing isn’t working for me. Not enough time spent on meaningful character development so I didn't care enough about any of them. And there’s too much head hopping. If you’re going to do multiple POVs, don’t switch so frequently. DNF@35%

The book is divided into three parts. Part One is the discovery of sentient AI’s and the birth of the generation ship. Part Two is the growth and development of the generation ship and the Cities therin, and Part Three is end/beginning of a new era. Each part advances the time line by decades, which kept the entire plot moving forward without getting bogged down in minutia.

Overall premise is Earth is on the brink of disaster – climate change has irrevocably alterReview rounded up to 3.5 stars.

The book is divided into three parts. Part One is the discovery of sentient AI’s and the birth of the generation ship. Part Two is the growth and development of the generation ship and the Cities therin, and Part Three is end/beginning of a new era. Each part advances the time line by decades, which kept the entire plot moving forward without getting bogged down in minutia.

Overall premise is Earth is on the brink of disaster – climate change has irrevocably altered the landscape, the political climate has fractured states and nations, the threat of a global war is imminent. In Part One we are introduced to the shipmind/AI Dressler aka “Lex”; Jackson Hammond, the Engineer; Dr. Ava, daughter of the man who created the biological and generation seed ships; and Colin, Captain. Dr. Ava and the Captain find a fungus coming from Hammond’s crucifix jewelry is quickly killing the shuttle and the asteroid 43 Ariadne is their only hope for rescue. Hammond has to convince Dr. Ava and the Captain to save “Lex” by combining her with the seed that will eventually create a generation ship. The melding is successful and “Lex” becomes the mind of the generation ship.

They are successful but at a cost: Dr. Ava goes off to prison for killing Jackson and Colin becomes director of Transfer Station for AmSplor, the oversight body for the growing and developing generation ship.

A decade passes, and Dr. Ava returns to Transfer Station to witness the result of her creation. Alex Hammond is on the same ship to get answers to why his father died. “Lex” takes exception to Dr. Ava’s return, confronts her, and she flees. Hammond, carrying the wetware virus his father did, is told to save her.

A decade passes, and Colin has retired from Station director and Hammond is now in charge. His daughter Andy, has inherited the same ability to talk and merge directly with the ship-mind. The situation on Earth has exploded, Transfer station is hacked and its core attacked, “Lex” and her human cargo may be all that’s left of the human race.

Whew! A lot to recap without spoilers! If you like scifi, you’ll probably like this. There’s the melding of mechanical and biological to make ships which is an interesting concept, the idea of growing a generation ship from the raw materials of an asteroid is different, as long as you don’t think too hard about certain scientific aspects and the use of three parts to move the story forward was nicely executed.

Where I struggled with the book was aspects like Jackson performing mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions on Dr. Ana after a near-fatal incident space and upon reviving, she gets up and walks around. Ah…no. Big NO. If you do chest compression's on someone you have just cracked/broke their ribs where they connect to your sternum. It’s going to hurt like a sonofabitch to move. She’s not going to be pushing anything around. I’m overlooking doing chest compression's while in a space suit…

I also found it highly unlikely that a shuttle ship captain would be given the directorate of a space station.

I grappled with Ana and Colin being so quick to accuse Jackson of putting the ship in peril, of knocking the man out and trussing him up in his bunk without even questioning the man. But when the truth comes to light and Dr. Ana confesses, Colin is all “Well…okay then.” The emotions didn’t fit the crime.

I had a bit of a Star Wars (Episode 4) moment, when Aaron Hammond goes in search of answers regarding his father, and doesn’t like what he’s told. It was a bit reminiscent of Luke Skywalkers anguished NNnnooo echoing through the chamber. After my eyes stopped rolling, all I could think was, don’t go looking for the truth IF YOU CAN’T HANDLE IT.

My final grumble with the book was the repetitive statements – I wish there was a way to track on my e-reader every time a character said “X”, only to repeat “X” three paragraphs over because it was a lot.

Overall, despite the items above, this was an interesting read. I liked the decade jumps to bring on new characters and move the timeline forward, the concept of growing a generation ship was different (as long as you don’t think too hard of the science and timelines), and the characters were interesting.

I do feel a shout out for the cover art is a must: Aaron Anderson did a fantastic job.

I’ll close with a note – while this doesn’t end on a cliffhanger (some might debate that point), this is by no means a standalone book.

Review is cross-posted on Gay Book ReviewsA copy of the book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!...more

The Stark Divide by J. Scott Coatsworth was a wonderfully written space adventure filled with suspense! I fell in love with the characters immediately and could not wait to see what was going to happen next.

When I logged on to Goodreads to mark this as finished, I was thrilled to see that it was labeled as book number one! I NEED to get my hands on a copy of The Rising Tide soon! I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the authorThe Stark Divide by J. Scott Coatsworth was a wonderfully written space adventure filled with suspense! I fell in love with the characters immediately and could not wait to see what was going to happen next.

When I logged on to Goodreads to mark this as finished, I was thrilled to see that it was labeled as book number one! I NEED to get my hands on a copy of The Rising Tide soon! I cannot wait to see where this story goes next!

Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.

The book began with an absolutely lovely dedication page filled with wonderfully heartfelt messages! I just loved this so much.

The story then began with quite the bang! I was hooked immediately!

As the story continues, the reader learns that the Earth is becoming a very dangerous place to live. There is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the planet is very warm. So warm that many coastal cities are now under water and a great number of the population has been wiped out...

Over the course of this novel, Earth begins to fall apart as the humans wage war and the atmosphere becomes more and more toxic. Luckily, three living generation ships have been built, each with an artificial intelligence. When a seed is planted on an asteroid, a new living world begins to grow.

It is on this planet that three generations focused on in this first book work together to properly colonize the planet.

But is the new planet they are helping grow going to be safe?

The Characters:My goodness, I loved this crew! Each character was so wonderfully developed and interesting. I loved that they were a diverse cast as well and that their diversity wasn't overly discussed or brought up too frequently; it was just totally natural, as it should be!

I really enjoyed that in the first part of the book, we met three characters that played very important roles in the creation of the planet. It was so nice to see their influence throughout the rest of the book as other generations came through. These three were Collin McAvery, the ship captain, Anastasia Anatov, the “doctor” who is an expert in the ship genetics, and Jackson Hammond, the engineer with a very useful ability.

Part One: Seedling, 2135 ADThe first part of the book was so suspenseful! It was a major life and death situation for more than just the ship and the three crew members, but also for the humans on Earth as the crew of three raced the clock to get off the dying ship and save the seed.

The overall situation that they were all in was terrifying, but there were also many other things that occurred that got my heart racing! Each time they got out of one sticky situation, another popped up! I could never have guessed what was going to happen next! It was so nerve wracking and so wonderfully written!

Part Two: Colony 2145 ADThe Hammond! Oh my gosh they named a ship after him like he requested; “Name something after me.” And his son, Aaron, is on the ship! And then the lake?! Welp, there came the water works for me... What a lovely touch!

This part of the story was another action packed section with a fun little whirlwind romance. I loved learning more about the growing world in this section and I really enjoyed meeting the new characters!

Part Three: Refugee, 2165 ADI loved seeing how the third generation Hammond’s powers have evolved! I thought it was so neat that each generation had something slightly different.

Just like the other sections, this one held many suspenseful situations.

My favorite passages:Somewhere out there, their destination awaited them, an asteroid floating in a sea of stars.

Men were often dismissive of the things they didn’t understand.

My final thoughts:Overall, a super fun and action packed read that kept me totally engaged. This was so wonderfully written and it was very easy to get totally immersed while reading. I adored the wonderful characters and the plot was so interesting! I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next!

If you enjoy space adventures with a wonderful cast, this is one that I highly recommend to you!...more

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, a5 out of 5 stars

Description ~

Some stories are epic.

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.

From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.

Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.

My Review ~

The Stark Divide is the first in a new science fiction series. While this story does feature LGBTQ characters it is not a romance.

Can we talk classic science fiction? Because that is exactly what The Stark Divide reminds me of as I read it... well no I didn't just read it, I devoured it, pretty much in one sitting. I grew up reading classic sci-fi and fantasy before I even discovered romance. So how I judge most books is along the lines of what my favorite elements are in a sci-fi or fantasy story. This story combined all those elements of my favorites like Pamela Sargent's Earthseed, and especially Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Scarborough's Ship Who Sang series.

First we have a dying Earth and a people who need options to survive, setting up that classic dystopian/post-apocalyptic world feeling. Then we have space exploration with a twist in these large ships that fuse both sentient systems with mech and bioware, and then they take it to another level by crafting the beginnings of a new planet that is also a sentient being. A FULLY aware sentient being who has feelings, and emotions, and knows what is going on. Lex completely and utterly grabbed me.. a PLANET became one of the main characters of the story and that's when I about vibrated off my chair because that is my kind of science fiction story. There are so many other elements that make this story so good and so very addictive, at least for this reader.

So I raved a bit about the non-human aspects of this story first... Now I'll delve into the human aspect just so you know that the story is more than space and sentient planets. As I said above this isn't a romance, but it does have a strong LGBTQ element and at least one long term m/m couple. The human aspect is more about telling the story of a dying planet, finally destroyed by war, and learning to live with the bare bones that is a new society on a new planet. They are the catalyst for many of the events that happen throughout the story, including the creation of Forever. That is another one of those things that make a good science fiction story highly readable, to have a strong human element that moves the story forward along with the incorporation of the tech and space discovery, etc.

I'll admit that when the author was telling me about the bones of this story I was excited because it sounded like a perfect read for me. I was definitely not wrong there and I really can't wait to see what's will happen next in this world. I'll stop raving there and highly encourage you to read this book.

This one I am highly recommending for all those that love classic well written science fiction stories. ...more

The Stark Divide is the type of book I never thought I'd read. I usually only read books with some type of romantic component. The romance doesn't have to be the center of the story but there must be a romance. Well, back in November 2017 J. Scott Coatsworth asked me if I'd review The Stark Divide for Xtreme Delusions. At the time I was just too busy to accept but he asked if I could do it in January and I said yes.

I was really nervous toFantastic world-building, dynamic and enthralling story.

The Stark Divide is the type of book I never thought I'd read. I usually only read books with some type of romantic component. The romance doesn't have to be the center of the story but there must be a romance. Well, back in November 2017 J. Scott Coatsworth asked me if I'd review The Stark Divide for Xtreme Delusions. At the time I was just too busy to accept but he asked if I could do it in January and I said yes.

I was really nervous to start reading the book because it's just not my usual kind of story. I'm a huge Star Trek fan, beginning with The Original Series which came out when I was around 12, but I've never read science fiction books and never really cared to. It's hard to say why I even said "yes" to Scott when asked to read The Stark Divide. I guess part of the reason is that I was a bit flattered that he wanted me to read it and was willing to wait until I had time in my schedule.

I am SO glad that I said yes and convinced myself to start reading this book. I didn't have to read very far into the story to get hooked. The Stark Divide is broken into three parts with ten years between part one and two, and then 20 years between part two and three.

Because I've never read this type of book before I'm not really sure how to review it. I'm one of those readers who has a hard time describing exactly what it is about a book that catches, and keeps, my attention. The Stark Divide was fascinating to me. Parts of it definitely remind me of Star Trek episodes, and the idea of creating a new world out of an existing "dead" planet is similar to one of the movies, but the complexity of the writing and the "world" that Scott has created are truly something.

The Stark Divide contains a rich cast of diverse characters, both queer and straight, with creative names for the flora and fauna contained on the new world. Scott has thoughtfully provided a glossary of terms and names of people in the story but I actually had very little trouble keeping track of things and didn't refer to it much.

I'm going to conclude by saying that the blurb describes the story accurately and much better than I ever could. I was kept on the figurative edge of my seat much of the time while reading this and had to force myself to put it down at 5 a.m. at one point so that I could be at least partially functional when meeting with friends later that day. At 87, 239 words it's longer than the books I normally read. It also took me a bit longer than normal to read it but I don't mean that in a bad way at all. I had to take more care when reading because I don't usually read science fiction, but, believe me, it was time well spent.

The Stark Divide doesn't have a cliffhanger but the scene is set for more to come and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

When I read a book by J. Scott Coatsworth I know I’m going to be treated to a story with fabulous world building, and interesting characters. The Stark Divide has all of that and more. One thing I really loved about this story is that although there are romances, they don’t drive it. Also it is populated by diverse characters with differing sexualities IE gay, straight, bi, and trans, which is accepted by this society in the future. The issues here aren’t that, but how mankind has ruined the EarWhen I read a book by J. Scott Coatsworth I know I’m going to be treated to a story with fabulous world building, and interesting characters. The Stark Divide has all of that and more. One thing I really loved about this story is that although there are romances, they don’t drive it. Also it is populated by diverse characters with differing sexualities IE gay, straight, bi, and trans, which is accepted by this society in the future. The issues here aren’t that, but how mankind has ruined the Earth, both ecologically and because of war. The author has done a great job in taking current concerns and extrapolating where they might lead the future human race if we continue on our current course. The tent city for refugees in one part of the story echoed current news stories scarily well.

I loved the nods to other SF authors, such as Asimov and McCaffrey. Some were direct mentions, others more subtle.

The world building is interesting, and different to anything I’ve read before. Although the ship-mind has echoes of Anne McCaffrey’s ship series, Coatsworth uses it as a springboard, and flies. The ship-mind, world-mind, and station-mind are interesting, developed characters, as are the humans who take centre stage in this story. The idea of growing a planet using biological technology is brilliant, and it was obvious the more I read that it is very well thought out. I also liked how the author split the book into three different time periods, each one jumping forward from the previous. It gives the story an epic feel, which is perfect for what it is—the rebirth of the human race on another world told through the perspective of not only those who are key players in that journey but of the world itself, and the generation ship it becomes. The linking of time periods through both older versions of already familiar characters, and the introduction of the next generation was nicely done, as was the expansion of the planet-mind.

I liked too, that the characters are very human, and take the time to cry, whether in relief or grief. I felt as though I was reading about real people. Not all of them have the greatest of intentions, they make mistakes, and are often driven by emotions that are a mix of good and not so good.

The descriptive of space is wonderfully emotive—“the stars poking brilliant holes in the firmament above.” The descriptions of Forever—the name given to the world by the colonists—are not overdone as to bog down the story, yet make the setting very easy to visualise. I spent several evenings getting lost in the story and staying up far too late in order to read just one more chapter.

Have you ever finished reading a book, gone on to do a bunch of projects during the day, and wanted to go back then to find out what happened next in that great story you read…only to remember you finished it already? Well, that’s what happened to me today. I just now was thinking that since I finished my ‘to do’ list, I had time to jump back into the story. But I can’t. It isn’t out yet!

Have you ever finished reading a book, gone on to do a bunch of projects during the day, and wanted to go back then to find out what happened next in that great story you read…only to remember you finished it already? Well, that’s what happened to me today. I just now was thinking that since I finished my ‘to do’ list, I had time to jump back into the story. But I can’t. It isn’t out yet!

As you’ve probably guessed by those rambling statements, I pretty much loved everything about this one. I liked the characters, I liked the locale, I liked the world building (well except for my part of Florida being 40 feet under water!) Mr. Coatsworth has created a very believable world, along with some believable tech, and then crafted a fast moving and interesting story tying it all together.

As a personal aside, you know how you, as the reader, develop a picture in your mind of what the characters in a story look like? Well…I’ve got to admit that when the captain of the living ship in this story was described, I instantly thought of Ben Browder on Farscape and then for a good section of the book, I was picturing this captain looking like Browder in his tight leather pants and no shirt. If you don’t get the Farscape reference, sorry, Google him. 😉

But I digress. Let’s get back to Mr. Coatsworth’s story. It is set in the not that distant future, and Earth is a mess. There are constant threats of war. There is an event that occurred not that far in the past that involved massive heat that killed off a huge portion of the world’s population. The remaining inhabitants of the Earth are facing escalating aggression from their fellow inhabitants, and the entire planet is faced with dwindling resources. These issues, and others, have led scientists to develop a class of living ships, each containing an artificial intelligence. The scientists are now working on massive living generation ships that will carry humans into the universe. But will they get away in time? And what will happen when the AIs on the ships turn out to be far more intelligent that previously thought?

I’ll admit that there was one spot in the story, fairly early on, that I got sooooo mad at Mr. Coatsworth, but he fixed it later, so I got over it. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out which section I was talking about, but it just might involve one of the original crew of three…

Enough. No more spoilers. I really enjoyed the story, and can’t wait for the next installment. I hope it is soon! If you’re a Sci-Fi fan, I think the book will be for you. I highly recommend you give it a shot....more

Some stories are epic indeed. And some stories just keep on getting better and more intriguing with each subsequent chapter and the introduction of every new character. The Stark Divide is such a book.

I’m not entirely sure how useful my review is going to be for dedicated readers of science fiction. I don’t read enough of it to be able to compare and am too flimsy on everything science to give a trustworthy opinion about that aspect for tWhat a treat to end the year with such a phenomenal book.

Some stories are epic indeed. And some stories just keep on getting better and more intriguing with each subsequent chapter and the introduction of every new character. The Stark Divide is such a book.

I’m not entirely sure how useful my review is going to be for dedicated readers of science fiction. I don’t read enough of it to be able to compare and am too flimsy on everything science to give a trustworthy opinion about that aspect for the story. But I can confidently say that as far as the fiction is concerned, this book is phenomenal (or, as the blurb states: epic).

What I loved most about The Stark Divide is that from the start right until the very end the story and the characters in it kept surprising me. Nothing is exactly how it seems and every time I thought I had things figured out a new development or character would throw me for a loop and force me to rethink the assumptions I had made.

The story is told in three parts, showing us how Forever, the new ‘worldlet’ came to be, through its early development to a very unexpected and possibly fatal danger. I found it impossible not to fall and care deeply for the various characters in this story, both human and other. The ungoing growth and development of Forever was fascinating, just as the way in which our Earth was rushing towards its own demise was horrifying — not in the least because that part of the story sounded all too plausible.

This is the sort of tale that will stay with me for days, if not weeks or months, after I’ve finished it because despite it being fiction, it touches on so many issues and potential disasters our world faces at the moment that it is impossible not to draw parallels. While we may not yet have reached the stage where we can create new worlds out of basically ‘nothing’, there is very little else in this book that felt impossible or farfetched to me. In fact, even the sentient new world (boy did I love Lex) made perfect sense to me, despite the fact that the science of it went way over my head.

As for recommending the book. I’ve got a feeling fans of Science fiction will love The Stark Divide; a theory which I’m determined to test on my husband in the not too distant future. But, if like me, you only dip your toe into this genre very occasionally, I have to say that this is a fabulous, fascinating and addictive story, even for those who are, like me, scientifically challenged. While the book doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, exactly, I have to say that I’m already eagerly anticipating the sequel. I’ve got a feeling that Forever’s story, like its world, is only going to grow bigger and more fascinating. ...more

Title: The Stark DivideAuthor: J. Scott CoatsworthPublisher: DSP PublicationsISBN: 978-1-63533-833-1Buy Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books...Reviewer: Teresa Fallen AngelBlurb: Liminal Sky 1Some stories are epic.The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested fTitle: The Stark DivideAuthor: J. Scott CoatsworthPublisher: DSP PublicationsISBN: 978-1-63533-833-1Buy Link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books...Reviewer: Teresa Fallen AngelBlurb: Liminal Sky 1Some stories are epic.The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.

Total Score: 5/5

Summary:

Received for n honest review.

This book may be the first in the series, but the stage was set with amazing characters in an off the charts plot that took the reader on man's journey into space. From the initial push to find a safe haven as the strife on Earth looked to be leading to the destruction of their very home. The idea of creating an AI that would build a biological and technical world ship that could take some of the human race on a journey to find a new home was intriguing. That in itself was incredible, but as the plot continued to unfold the story kept advancing allowing the reader to experience how humanity advanced along with the world-ship and the AI that worked alongside them. It was fascinating how new characters were added while continuing the lives of the earlier people in the story.

The descriptions of life in space with all the advances and struggles brought them to life for the reader. I can't wait to see what in next in store fir the inhabitants of the world-ship Forever....more

This is a science fiction novel that focuses on the classic theme of colonization. I enjoyed it immensely.

Split into three sections (Seedling, Colony, and Refugee) and spanning thirty years, the book covers man's exodus into space as things on Earth are making the homeworld unfit for human life (global warming, war, etc.). Without spoiling the story, three characters' actions chart the course of human history.

There's a good bit of tense action in Seedling that would rival the best of any storiThis is a science fiction novel that focuses on the classic theme of colonization. I enjoyed it immensely.

Split into three sections (Seedling, Colony, and Refugee) and spanning thirty years, the book covers man's exodus into space as things on Earth are making the homeworld unfit for human life (global warming, war, etc.). Without spoiling the story, three characters' actions chart the course of human history.

There's a good bit of tense action in Seedling that would rival the best of any stories that focus on spaceflights gone awry. Colony focuses on what this new world will be, with one of the three characters looking for closure. Refugee introduced two new characters, who were good, and they're needed for a crisis occurring on the world. The final act isn't as strong as the first two because the problem was too easily fixed. However, it was necessary to get past this obstacle to get to the climax, which is a tease for other books in this series.

Author Coatsworth has created a classic science fiction novel that includes action, drama, religion, and a new phase of existence -- on two fronts! I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys the genre and I look forward to his next installment. ...more

The Stark Divide is a space opera on the level of David Brin's Heart of the Comet.

Coatsworth has assembled a cast of characters- human and AI- who leap from the page and make you care for them.

The world building is phenomenal. Living ships created to travel the stars with sustainable resources are the center of the story. Colin McAvery is the common thread throughout this book, and he is a compelling character who propels many of the events.

The story is told in a series of vignettes with signifiThe Stark Divide is a space opera on the level of David Brin's Heart of the Comet.

Coatsworth has assembled a cast of characters- human and AI- who leap from the page and make you care for them.

The world building is phenomenal. Living ships created to travel the stars with sustainable resources are the center of the story. Colin McAvery is the common thread throughout this book, and he is a compelling character who propels many of the events.

The story is told in a series of vignettes with significant time passage in between each section. We meet McAvery first as the captain of the ship towing the "seed" of the ship which, once planted on an asteroid, will grow and become a self-sustaining, life supporting entity, like an artificial planetoid. But the artificial intelligence destined for this seed grows beyond anything dreamed of by its creators.

This living ship and others like it will become the last hope of the survivors of a war-torn planet Earth. I can't wait to see what else is in store in this epic space adventure. It has the feel of the most recent Battlestar Galactica and it's sweep of amazing characters.

This novel is is pure, outstanding science fiction/fantasy. Like James Blish a few generations ago, J Scott Coatsworth gives us a new understanding of "seedling stars."

I cannot begin to describe the lush detail, the mind-blowing invention, the beauty and uniqueness of Coatsworth’s world. Every paragraph is rich and delicious as red velvet cake, hard and believable as “Ship’s Bone.” From the interplanetary ships that eat and breathe solar wind and space dust...to the DrWorld-building at its best!

This novel is is pure, outstanding science fiction/fantasy. Like James Blish a few generations ago, J Scott Coatsworth gives us a new understanding of "seedling stars."

I cannot begin to describe the lush detail, the mind-blowing invention, the beauty and uniqueness of Coatsworth’s world. Every paragraph is rich and delicious as red velvet cake, hard and believable as “Ship’s Bone.” From the interplanetary ships that eat and breathe solar wind and space dust...to the Dragons Reach mountains and the Far Hold...this world unfolds with infinite variety.

The central character in this first novel, Colin McAvery, is the hub; but every other character is well developed as we follow them and their progeny through this first of his Liminal Sky series.

Can a few dedicated humans save a tiny new world, send it on a rendezvous though space to a final home? I give this author an A-plus for world-building, characterization, a mesh of fantasy and hard science, and for sheer story-telling magic....more

Three people, two men, Jackson Hammon, Colin McAvery and a woman, Dr. Anastasia Anatov are sent out into the universe on ship called the Dressler or Lex for short, a living ship to find a place to build a new Earth on as the people are destroying the old Earth.

Over the years more and more people come to live and help to create this new Earth that is called Forever. Dr. Anatov returns after many years on Earth hoping to get some closure or maybe to set things right for what happened all those yeaThree people, two men, Jackson Hammon, Colin McAvery and a woman, Dr. Anastasia Anatov are sent out into the universe on ship called the Dressler or Lex for short, a living ship to find a place to build a new Earth on as the people are destroying the old Earth.

Over the years more and more people come to live and help to create this new Earth that is called Forever. Dr. Anatov returns after many years on Earth hoping to get some closure or maybe to set things right for what happened all those years ago on the asteroid before it became Forever. She needs to somehow make amends for what happened on the ship.

The world building in The Stark Divide was astronomical it sort of reminded me of Star Trek in some ways. I liked that the ship Lex has a mind of her own and was a living thing. The description of the ship and the new world was so amazing. The author made you fill as if you were there looking around in the universe and seeing it all up close.

If you like stories like Star Trek then I think you will love The Stark Divide. I would recommend The Stark Divide to all science fiction fans. ...more

Pretty darn good. With more polished writing, it could have been excellent ... and I really wanted it to be excellent, for the writing to match the scope of the story. Nitpicking comments below the summaries, but I absolutely loved the world-building and the plot.

Part I: Three people in a living ship that starts to fall apart around them before their mission is done. Interesting misdirect with the cause.

Part II: Years later, the survivors of the first living ship come together.

Part III: As thePretty darn good. With more polished writing, it could have been excellent ... and I really wanted it to be excellent, for the writing to match the scope of the story. Nitpicking comments below the summaries, but I absolutely loved the world-building and the plot.

Part I: Three people in a living ship that starts to fall apart around them before their mission is done. Interesting misdirect with the cause.

Part II: Years later, the survivors of the first living ship come together.

Part III: As the situation on Earth gets worse, Forever is flooded with refugees.

Nitpicks:Needs to better integrate infodumps/character backstory into the narrative. What was done worked, but was a bit clumsy. Characters could use a bit more depth. Ironically, we get the most depth on (view spoiler)[characters who die and get integrated into the worldmind. (hide spoiler)] Others need that same depth.I'm not convinced the constant switching POV is always necessary. It works, and is clearly delineated in the text, but spending longer at a time in a single POV would help with character depth, I think....more

From that Review: " Every now and again, a story comes along that you wish you could give more than the allotted 5 stars. The Stark Divide by J. Scott Coatsworth is one of those novels. A science fiction saga, the first in a series, it's giant narrative footprint calls to mind some of my favorite science fiction authors, from Arthur C. Clarke in it's clear, forward use of sciencA Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review

From that Review: " Every now and again, a story comes along that you wish you could give more than the allotted 5 stars. The Stark Divide by J. Scott Coatsworth is one of those novels. A science fiction saga, the first in a series, it's giant narrative footprint calls to mind some of my favorite science fiction authors, from Arthur C. Clarke in it's clear, forward use of science and up to the creator of Star Trek, Gene Roddenberry, in it's all inclusive outlook on humanity, the sweeping scope and incredible imaginative flair of the author makes this story one of the true highlights of my reading year..."

This book was sci-fi heaven for me! Original, well-structured, exciting, and just plain cool. The Earth’s resources are depleted and it’s on the verge of death. A few lucky individuals will attempt to create a living spaceship so they can find a new home among the stars. This story takes place over several generations. It’s a compelling tale that held me firmly in its grasp from beginning to end. Through many setbacks and a few catastrophes the sentient ship and its human cargo preservere. EvenThis book was sci-fi heaven for me! Original, well-structured, exciting, and just plain cool. The Earth’s resources are depleted and it’s on the verge of death. A few lucky individuals will attempt to create a living spaceship so they can find a new home among the stars. This story takes place over several generations. It’s a compelling tale that held me firmly in its grasp from beginning to end. Through many setbacks and a few catastrophes the sentient ship and its human cargo preservere. Even though there were some really dark moments, the overall theme is optimistic. I LOVED it!

The Stark Divide is a space opera on the level of David Brin. Chatsworth has assembled a cast of characters- human and AI- who leap from the page and make you care for them. The world building is phenomenal. Living ships created to travel the stars with sustainable resources are the center of the story. Colin McAvery is the common thread throughout this book, and he is a compelling character who propels many of the events. I will update this review when I have time to dWhat an adventure this is!

The Stark Divide is a space opera on the level of David Brin. Chatsworth has assembled a cast of characters- human and AI- who leap from the page and make you care for them. The world building is phenomenal. Living ships created to travel the stars with sustainable resources are the center of the story. Colin McAvery is the common thread throughout this book, and he is a compelling character who propels many of the events. I will update this review when I have time to do it justice. The most recent Battlestar Galactica is the parallel that comes most quickly to mind, and Brin's Heart of the Comet. Read this book!...more

This novel really starts off with a bang and doesnt let up. Forever is a very strong lead and while I didn’t always agree with her decisions, I did like her overall as a character.She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.I loved the way Josh Coatsworth told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.A very wonderful and Suspenseful Sci-fi Novel.You will definitely want to have plenty of allotted reading time before starting tThis novel really starts off with a bang and doesnt let up. Forever is a very strong lead and while I didn’t always agree with her decisions, I did like her overall as a character.She has a lot to deal with over the course of this novel.I loved the way Josh Coatsworth told the story. It was very well thought out and this really showed through the characters and setting.A very wonderful and Suspenseful Sci-fi Novel.You will definitely want to have plenty of allotted reading time before starting this one. It was hard to put down....more

A solid Sci-Fi Novel. The premise is unique, which made me excited to read it just from the synopsis. This is one of those stories that will start off with a bang and not let up until the very last page. It really keeps on a great pace throughout. Scott J. Coatsworth has really created an imaginative sci-fi novel with drama and surprises.

Being that it is the first in a series, there are unanswered questions. We will have to wait for the big answers, but the first installment itself was wrappedA solid Sci-Fi Novel. The premise is unique, which made me excited to read it just from the synopsis. This is one of those stories that will start off with a bang and not let up until the very last page. It really keeps on a great pace throughout. Scott J. Coatsworth has really created an imaginative sci-fi novel with drama and surprises.

Being that it is the first in a series, there are unanswered questions. We will have to wait for the big answers, but the first installment itself was wrapped up....more

My favourite book by J Scott Coatsworth (so far!). Such vivid, creative world building - I loved the concept of a conscious “world-mind” inside a bio-technical structure (no FTL flight in this book!). Although this is a science fiction book, not a romance, the characters are diverse and engaging. I sat glued to my screen!

Scott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.

He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he startedScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.

He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.

When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with queer men. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.

Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.

Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark.

His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.

Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention....more